Unfurling device for tubular extendible structures

Abstract

A system for simultaneously extending two storable tubular extendible members, each such member being composed of two elongate strips of elastically deformable material, each strip having been fabricated to normally assume the form of a tube having an axis parallel to the length of the strip and being capable of being coiled about an axis perpendicular to such tube axis and of being flattened in the direction of its width while retaining its ability to assume the form of a tube upon being uncoiled, there being provided two coiling drums each arranged to carry one respective component strip of each tubular member and the drums being arranged to be rotated simultaneously in order to uncoil the strips in a manner to extend the two tubular members, or to coil the strips in a manner to retract the tubular members. The system can be arranged to provide any number of pairs of tubular members by providing a plurality of axially spaced pairs of coiling drums each carrying two such strips.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for establishing tubular structures comprising: two pairs of elongate strips of elastically deformable material, each said strip having been fabricated to normally assume the form of a tube having an axis parallel to the length of said strip and being capable of being coiled about an axis perpendicular to such tube axis and being flattened in the direction of its width while retaining its ability to assume the form of a tube upon being uncoiled; two coiling drums each arranged to receive a respective pair of said strips and each rotatable in a coiling direction of rotation for simultaneously coiling the strips of its respective pair about an axis perpendicular to the lengths of said strips, and in an uncoiling direction of rotation for simultaneously uncoiling the strips of its respective pair; said drums being laterally spaced from one another and being aligned so that the longitudinal center lines of said strips on said drums lie in a common plane; and means defining two guidance exit openings each receiving a respective strip of each said pair in a manner such that during rotation of said drums in their respective uncoiling directions, portions of the two said strips received by each said opening assume the form of a tube and become interengaged to form a dual tubular member. 
     
     
       2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said exit openings are located for causing their associated tubular member to project in mutually opposite directions. 
     
     
       3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said drums are connected to be driven in mutually opposite directions of rotation. 
     
     
       4. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said strips forming one said tubular member are guided from their respective drums to their associated exit opening via the space between said drums. 
     
     
       5. An arrangement as defined in claim 4 further comprising: means located in the vicinity of the center of gravity of said system for supporting said system. 
     
     
       6. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 further comprising: two additional pairs of said elongate strips of elastically deformable material; two additional coiling drums each arranged to receive a respective additional pair of said strips and each rotatable in a coiling direction of rotation for simultaneously coiling the strips of its respective pair about an axis perpendicular to the lengths of said strips, and in an uncoiling direction of rotation for simultaneously uncoiling the strips of its respective pair, and each said additional drum being axially offset from a respective one of said first-recited drums; and two receiving means each receiving a respective strip of each said additional pair in a manner such that during rotation of said additional coiling drums in their uncoiling direction, the portions of the respective strips received by each said receiving means assume the form of a tube and become interengaged to form a dual tubular member.